Device for providing a cylinder with a packing and registers

ABSTRACT

A cylinder can receive one or more packings which are held in proper register. One or more register elements are carried by support strips which are placed in the cylinder barrel. These register elements can be held against longitudinal displacement in the cylinder barrel by a clamping device that is operable from the end face of the cylinder. The clamping device includes a clamping assembly which is useable to hold the register elements in place.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to devices for placing aregistry-stable packing on a cylinder. At least one register block isplaced in a groove in the cylinder. The block is held in position by anexternally accessible clamp.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A lateral registry system for printing formes in an axis- parallel gapof a forme cylinder in a rotary printing press is known from DE 42 41588 C2. Cutouts at the beveled or angled ends of the printing forme acttogether with register pins that are arranged in the cylinder gap. Theregister pins are rigidly connected with insertion strips, which stripscan be individually axially displaced, and which are arrangedaxis-parallel and above each other in the cylinder gap or groove, inrespect to each other and in relation to the cylinder. The displacementof the insertion strips is performed for the purpose of accomplishinglateral adjustment of the printing forme by use of threaded bolts thatare arranged at the end face of the cylinder, and whose thread lengthdefines the displacement distance.

In a similar way DE 197 57 895 C2 shows a register setting arrangement,but in which the insertion strips are arranged next to each other in thecylinder gap. An increase of the setting range takes place by theprovision of intermediate positions between the strip and the supportsof the screw arranged on the front face.

EP 0 490 179 A1 discloses a register element which is releasablyarranged on an insertion strip and which is displaceable in relation tothe insertion strip fixed on the cylinder by use of eccentric bolts. Theregister adjustment is kept within the range of the eccentricity of thebolts. For fixation of the register element in place againstunintentional displacement, the register element, which is provided withelongated holes, is maintained frictionally connected to the bottom ofthe insertion strip by the use of screws. Releasing and clamping, aswell as adjustment of the register element, is performed from thedirection of the cylinder shell through the groove opening. Releasingand clamping of a register element takes place in a similar way in EP 0535 502 B1, radially by the use of screws, which are embedded in theinsertion strips that are matched to the curvature of the cylindershell.

DE 196 00 071 C1 discloses a device for placing a registry-stablepacking on the shell surface of a cylinder. Clamping of register blockstakes place, extending from the shell surface, by the friction betweenthe end of the register block itself, which is embodied as a conicalseat, and a recess in a base body that is fixed in place on the cylinderbody. The register blocks can be inserted discontinuously in the axialdirection into various recesses, or base bodies in the cylinder.

A device is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,419,248, in which substantiallyring-shaped register elements are seated, in a freely rotatable manner,on an actuating shaft of a clamping device. Each can be frictionallyfixed in place in a groove of the actuating shaft by a spreading devicewhich can be operated from the groove.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is directed to providing devices foraccomplishing the registry-stable placement of a packing on a cylinder.

In accordance with the present invention, the object is attained by theuse of at least one register block that is placed in a cylinder to whichthe packing will be secured. The position of the register blocklongitudinally in the cylinder can be changed. A clamping device is usedto fix the register block in a desired longitudinal position in thecylinder barrel. The clamping device can be actuated from outside of aprinting area of the barrel of the cylinder to change the position ofthe register block. The longitudinal position of the register block canbe changed by an amount that is equal to at least one half of the widthof the packing secured to the cylinder.

The advantages which can be achieved by the present invention reside, inparticular, in that a variable arrangement and number of registerelements can be arranged in a groove over almost the entire width of acylinder barrel, or variably within the groove over the width of theprinted material web or of the printing forme, regardless of whetherthere is a printing press with two, four or even more printing plates,or printing sides, arranged next to each other in the longitudinaldirection of the cylinder.

The axial regulating distance for the register blocks is independent ofan axial regulating distance of a regulating spindle or of a clampingdevice which can be operated from the front or end face of the cylinder,and is not fixedly connected with the cylinder.

The continuous regulating distance, which can be used over almost theentire length of the barrel of the cylinder, or over the width of theprinting forme, makes possible, in addition to an adjustment within anarrow regulating range, a rapid reconfiguration of the registerelements to other web widths of the paper or to other printing formats,for example, by simple displacement, without new elements needing to beinserted. The relative, axis-parallel, and independent displacement oftwo or more of the register elements, in respect to each other, is alsoof particular advantage. Particularly advantageous is the simple press-or customer-specific positioning and configuration of the registerelements of the present invention in situ, without having to take narrowbasic regulating ranges into consideration in the course of themanufacture, or assembly, of the grooves, even in the situation ofdifferent series or models.

For special embodiments, the shaping and dimensions of the device forplacing a register-stable packing on a cylinder in accordance with thepresent invention can be matched, in a simple manner, to cylinder groovegeometries or to register devices of existing printing presses, so thatretrofitting or refitting are possible. Also, in connection withpreviously assembled presses, the exchange of register elements ofvarious dimensions, their removal, or the additional equipping with themis possible.

It is particularly advantageous, in connection with cylinders havingnarrow, axially extending grooves for receiving printing formes, thatclamping, or releasing of the register elements takes place from outsideof the printing area of the barrel, for example, from the direction ofthe front or end face of the cylinder. The opening of the groove in thecircumferential direction of the forme receiving cylinder can be kept asnarrow as required for inserting printing formes, for example, withouthaving to take into consideration the provision of access to fasteningor adjusting devices, which previously have had to be accessible throughthe groove. The gap width is independent of tools or other devicesneeded for actuating the clamping device. The disruption of the shellsurface of the cylinder, and therefore a limitation or a reduction ofthe printing area of the cylinder, for example by the need for embeddedscrews that are spaced apart from the groove in prior devices, isavoided by the device for placing a register-stable packing on acylinder in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is represented in thedrawings and will be explained in greater detail in what follows.

Shown are in:

FIG. 1, a schematic representation of a device for the registry-stableplacement of a packing on a cylinder in accordance with the presentinvention,

FIG. 2, a top plan view of an area of a printing forme with its cutout,

FIG. 3, a side elevation view of a register block, and in

FIG. 4, a longitudinal section through the device for theregistry-stable placement of a packing on a cylinder taken along theline A—A of FIG. 1 and parallel with the cylinder groove.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, a cylinder 01, for example a forme cylinder 01 of arotary printing press, has at least one groove 02 on its circumferentialsurface, with groove 02 extending in an axis-parallel direction. Groove02 is provided with an opening 03 in the direction toward the shell orcircumferential surface 04 of the cylinder 01, which openings 03 andgroove 02 is used for receiving the ends 06, 07 of one or of severalcylinder packings 08, for example the beveled ends 06, 07 of printingformes 08. In the depicted embodiment the cylinder 01 is structured as adouble-width forme cylinder 01, i.e. one in which four printing formes08 or newspaper pages can be placed next to each other in thelongitudinal direction of the cylinder 01 on its barrel or surface 04.

In its interior, the forme cylinder 01 has a recess 09, for example abore 09, extending in the axis-parallel direction and connected with thegroove 02, in which the device for registry-stable placement of apacking 08 on a cylinder 01, in accordance with the present invention,is arranged. The groove 02, as well as the bore 09, can be providedalmost continuously over the entire length of the barrel of the cylinder01. However, it is also possible for two grooves 02, as well as twobores 09, to each extend over essentially half the length of thecylinder barrel and, if desired, to be offset from each other, forexample by 180°, in the circumferential direction of the cylinder 01.

In an advantageous manner, the groove 02 is embodied as a narrow slit02, i.e. a slit 02 of a slit width b02 in the circumferential directionof the cylinder 01, which, in the area of the shell surface 04 of thecylinder 01, is slightly greater than twice the thickness d08 of theprinting forme 08, for example, b02=2 mm, and whose opening 03 in thedirection toward the shell surface 04 has a width b03 of, for example,b03<3 mm. In respect to the shell surface 04 of the cylinder 01 thenarrow slit 02 extends in a secant-like manner, in an advantageous wayon the side of the leading end 06 of the printing forme 08, at an acuteangle α, for example, 20°<α<50°.

The device for registry-stable placement of a packing 08 on a cylinder,in accordance with the present invention, is arranged in the bore 09 andhas at least one register element 12, as seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, whichat least one register element may be, for example, a register block 12,and a clamping device 13 that works together with the register block 12, and which extends in the bore 09 in an axis-parallel direction andparallel with the groove 02. As a rule, several register blocks 12 arearranged along the length of the longitudinal bore 09 and are used toaccomplish the register or alignment of, for example, several printingformes 08 which are located next to each other, each of which printingformes 08 has a width b08, as seen in FIG. 2. In this case, the severalregister blocks 12 are arranged next to each other in the longitudinaldirection in the bore 09. The register blocks 12 and the clamping device13 are arranged, in an preferred manner, on a support strip 14, whichsupport strip 14 is also extending in the longitudinal direction of thebore 09. At its end face, the support strip 14 can have a securingdevice 16 to secure strip 14 in bore 09 against axial movements and/orpivoting. For example securing device 16 may be a screw or a pin, asseen in FIG. 1.

The register block or blocks 12 and the clamping device 13 are arrangedon the support strip 14, or in the bore 09, in such a way, that a firstside face 17 of each register block 12 contacts non-positively and actstogether with a side face 18 of the clamping device 13 extending in anaxis-parallel direction. A second side face 19 of the register block 12,which faces away from the first side face 17, acts non-positivelytogether with a side face 21, which is extending in an axis-paralleldirection, of the support strip 14. In the state in which it is notclamped, the register block 12 is arranged so that its position in thesupport strip 14 can be changed relative to the clamping device 13 andrelative to the support strip 14 while remaining parallel with thegroove 02. In other words, each register block 12 can slide axially withrespect to cylinder 01 in the support strip 14. On its upper face 22facing the groove 02, the register block 12 has a protrusion 23, forexample a pin 23 or a projection, which protrusion 23 is receivable inand thus acts positively together, in respect to an axis-paralleldisplacement, with a cutout 24 in the leading end 06 of the printingforme 08. The register block 12 can be formed as a one-piece T-element,wherein the shape of the protrusion 23 and that of the cutout 24 arematched so that they fit into each other. The register block 12 has, inan advantageous manner, a width b12, which is greater than the width b02of the groove 02, as shown in FIG. 1, so that the register blocks 12 areretained in the cylinder bore 09 and are secure against being ejectedfrom bore 09 by the centrifugal forces created, and acting on them inthe course of the rotation of the cylinder 01.

The clamping device 13 has an actuating assembly 26, which is operatedfrom the end face 27 of the cylinder 01 and which, as a part of a geararrangement, converts a rotary movement about an axis D extending in thelongitudinal direction of the cylinder 01, or a translatory movement inthe axis-parallel direction, into a translatory movement of the sideface 18 of the damping device 13 in a direction perpendicular to thisaxis D; i.e. in a generally circumferential direction. The clampingdevice actuating assembly 26 can be an eccentric shaft, a camshaft or aprofiled shaft of helical cross section, or a threaded spindle, by theuse of which a keying connection is produced.

In the preferred embodiment, the clamping device 13 is embodied as akeying connection, which can be operated by operation of the actuatingassembly 26, for example as a threaded spindle 30, which extends intothe body of the clamping device 13 parallel to the axis of the cylinder01 and which is accessible from the direction of the end face 27 of thecylinder 01. The actuating assembly 26 substantially consists of aclamping strip 28 having the clamping device side face 18 and having acutout 31 on a clamping strip outer face 29, facing away from theclamping device side face 18 and with both cutout 31 and face 29extending in the longitudinal direction. A ball 32 is arranged in thecutout 31, as well as the threaded spindle 30, which spindle 30 isarranged in a bore 34 connecting the cutout 31 and an end face 33 of theclamping strip 28, all as seen most clearly in FIG. 4. The bore 34 issupplied, at least partially, with an interior thread and receives thethreaded spindle 30. On its first or exterior end, for example, thethreaded spindle 30 has a hexagon socket 36 and, at least in the clampedstate, projects with its second end 37 into the cutout 31 and cooperateswith the ball 32.

On its side remote from the clamping strip end face 33, the cutout 31has a wedging face 38, which is inclined toward the clamping strip outerface 29 and which opens in the direction toward the center of thecylinder 01. This wedging, angled face 38 works together with the ball32 and with a face 39 of the bore 09, fixed on the cylinder 01, in themanner of a key.

It is possible to arrange a different type of pressure element 32 inplace of the ball 32, which will work together with the wedging face 38and with the face 39 of the bore 09, fixed on the cylinder 01. Theinclination of the wedging face 38 can also be omitted if the pressureelement 32 is embodied in a wedge shape. In the present preferredembodiment, the threaded spindle 30 of the actuating assembly 26, thepressure element 32, and at least one inclined face 38 arranged on thepressure element 32 or the clamping strip 28, together constitute thegear arrangement converting the axial movement into a movementperpendicular to it. It is advantageous in connection with the preferredembodiment that it is possible, by the selection of the thread pitch ofthe threaded spindle 30 and the inclination of the wedging face 38, toset a fine gear ratio and furthermore, that a frictional connection,effective against the unintentional turning of the threaded spindle 30,can be achieved by use of the screw thread. To insure that in the courseof releasing the clamping device 13, the ball 32 will dependably movealong the wedging face 38 in the direction of the end face 33 of theclamping strip 28, a spring 41 can be arranged in an axis-parallelextending groove 42 in the wedging face 38.

The arrangement of the cutout 31 and of the pressure element 32 which ispushed off the face 39 of the bore 09, in the longitudinal direction ofthe cylinder 01 between two register blocks 12 is advantageous. In thepreferred embodiment, the cylinder 01 has two clamping devices 13extending symmetrically in respect to its plane of symmetry S, each ofwhich clamping device 13 is operated from the cylinder's end face. Atotal of four register blocks 12 are arranged over the length of thecylinder barrel on the continuous support strip 14 in the continuousbore 09. It will be understood that FIG. 4 represents one-half of thesymmetrical arrangement.

If the clamping device 13 and the register blocks 12 are not arranged ona support strip 14, but directly in the appropriately shaped recess 09,the second side face 19 of the register blocks 12 acts directly togetherwith the face 39 of the cylinder bore or recess 09 in the clamped state.

The actuating assembly 26 can also be embodied as a camshaft, forexample, which is seated without a screw thread in the bore 34. However,the embodiment of the actuating assembly 26 as including a threadedspindle 30, which has a cam on its end projecting out of the cutout 31,is advantageous in regard to a frictional connection againstunintentional reversing of the actuating assembly 26. In this case thepressure element 32 and the inclined face 38 can be omitted.

It is essential, inter alia, that the clamping device 13 can be operatedfrom the direction of its end face 33, or at least from outside of theprinting area of the barrel, and that when the actuating assembly 26 isoperated, the clamping strip 28 is exposed to a movement and/or forcecomponent extending essentially perpendicularly in respect to thelongitudinal direction of the bore 09; i.e. in the circumferentialdirection of the cylinder 01, in the course of which movement, theclamping strip 28 maintains the register blocks 12, fixed against anaxis-parallel displacement, in a frictionally connected manner betweenclamping strip 28 and a face 21, fixed on the support strip 14 or theface 39 of the bore 09. In the released state, the position of theregister blocks 12 can be changed in the axis-parallel direction, orthey can be removed, independently of each other without the entireclamping strip 28 or support strip 14 needing to be axially moved. Whenthe register blocks 12 are being adjusted, the clamping device 13 andthe register blocks 12 are moved relative to each other in thelongitudinal direction of the cylinder 01.

The clamping device 13, and in particular the actuating assembly 26, canalso be operated by an appropriate gear arrangement, for example bybevel gears, that are not specifically represented, from thenon-printing edge area direction of the shell surface 04, for example inthe immediate vicinity of the cylinder end face 27.

The upper face 22 of the register block 12 which faces the leading end06 of the printing forme 08 in the circumferential direction, can form adetent which can be set by the height h43 of a base 43 or by a lengthl23 of the projection 23 of the register block 12. A basic setting inthe circumferential register can be selected by the employment ofdifferently dimensioned register blocks 12.

The device for the registry-stable placement of a packing 08 on acylinder 01, in accordance with the present invention, functions asfollows:

In the clamped state, the ball 32 is pressed by the threaded spindle 30in the direction toward the center of the cylinder 01 between the face39 of the bore 09 and the inclined face 38, and in this way presses theclamping strip 28 in a direction with at least one component which isnormal in respect to the face 39 of the bore 09. Thus the registerblocks 12 are frictionally held between the side face 21 of the supportstrip 14 on the one side, and the side face 18 of the clamping strip 28of the clamping device 13 on the other side, so that the register blocks12 are fixed against axis-parallel displacement.

For displacing the device, for example for changing the relativedistances of the register blocks 12 in respect to each other, thethreaded spindle 30, which can be operated from the end face 27 of thecylinder 01, is rotated in such a way that the frictional connectionbetween the clamping strip 28, the register blocks 12 and the supportstrip 14 is released, and the register blocks 12 are freed foraxis-parallel displacement. For example, the distances between theregister blocks 12 can be readjusted by the use of a gauge, which is notspecifically represented, and which is inserted into the groove 02.Thereafter the register blocks 12 are again frictionally fixed in placein their new position by turning the threaded spindle 30. Withdouble-width cylinders 01 in particular, i.e. with cylinders 01 on whichfour printing formes 08 can be placed side-by-side for either ahorizontal or a vertical newspaper page, a position change of theregister blocks 12 in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder byone-half the width b08 of a packing 08 is, for example, required whenresetting the cylinder 01 from use with simple printing formes 08 to usewith so-called panorama plates of almost twice the width.

An exchange, the removal, or the additional equipping of the device withregister blocks 12 is also possible in a simple manner in that,following the release of the threaded spindle 30, either the registerblocks 12 are pushed out of the end of the device or, following theadditional release of the support strip securing device 16, the entiredevice, consisting at least of the clamping strip 28 and the registerblocks 12, is pulled out of the bore 09 from the end of the cylinder 01.

While a preferred embodiment of a device for providing a cylinder with aregistry-stable packing in accordance with the present invention hasbeen set forth fully and completely hereinabove, it will be apparent toone of skill in the art that various changes in, for example, the typeof packings or plates placed on the cylinder, the overall size of thecylinder, and the like could be made without departing from the truespirit and scope of the present invention which is accordingly to belimited only by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for placing at least one register-stablepacking on a cylinder of a rotary printing press comprising: a cylinderbarrel having a longitudinal axis and an end face; at least a firstregister block supported for movement in said cylinder barrel in alongitudinal direction; a clamping device useable to secure said atleast first register block in a desired position in said cylinderbarrel, said damping device having a clamping point within said cylinderbarrel, said clamping point being useable to fix said at least firstregister block in place with respect to a position change in saidlongitudinal direction; and means for actuating said clamping devicefrom said cylinder barrel end face.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein apacking placed on said cylinder barrel has a packing width and furtherwherein said at least first register block is continuously changeable insaid longitudinal direction through a distance equal to at least onehalf of said packing width.
 3. The device of claim 2 wherein saidcylinder barrel has a barrel length, said barrel length being at leastequal to twice said packing width.
 4. The device of claim 2 wherein saidcylinder barrel has a barrel length, said barrel length being at leastequal to four times said packing width.
 5. The device of claim 4 whereinsaid distance over which said at least one register block is changeableIs equal to one half of said barrel length.
 6. The device of claim 1further including a second register block in said cylinder barrel, saidfirst and second register blocks being arranged adjacent each other insaid longitudinal direction.
 7. The device of claim 6 further includingat least a second clamping device in said cylinder barrel.
 8. The deviceof claim 1 further including a plurality of said register blocks, saidplurality of said register blocks being operable by said clampingdevice.
 9. The device of claim 1 wherein said clamping device ismoveable in said longitudinal direction and further wherein longitudinalmovement of said register block can be accomplished independently oflongitudinal movement of said clamping device.
 10. The device of claim 1further including a clamping strip in said clamping device, saidclamping strip acting on said at least one register block, and anactuating assembly, said actuating assembly being operable to move saidclamping strip in a direction perpendicular to said longitudinaldirection against and away from said at least one register block. 11.The device of claim 10 wherein said actuating assembly includes athreaded spindle extending in said longitudinal direction, said threadedspindle being useable to move said clamping strip in said directionperpendicular to said longitudinal direction.
 12. The device of claim 1further including a recess in said cylinder barrel, said recessextending in said longitudinal direction, and a groove extending betweensaid recess and a shell surface of said cylinder barrel, said groovereceiving a leading end and a trailing end of a packing placed on saidcylinder barrel.
 13. The device of claim 12 wherein said packing leadingend has a cutout and further wherein said at least one register blockhas a protrusion, said protrusion being receivable in said cutout. 14.The device of claim 12 wherein said groove extends at an acute anglebetween said recess and said shell surface and further wherein saidgroove has a width at said shell surface, said width being less than 3mm.
 15. The device of claim 12 wherein said register block has aregister block width and said groove has a groove width, said registerblock width being greater than said groove width.
 16. A device forplacing at least one register-stable packing on a cylinder of a rotaryprinting press comprising: a cylinder barrel having a longitudinaldirection; at least a first register block supported for movement insaid cylinder barrel in said longitudinal direction; a width defined bya packing placeable on said cylinder barrel, said packing widthextending in said longitudinal direction; and means for continuouslychanging a position of said at least first register block in saidlongitudinal direction in said cylinder barrel over a length, saidlength being at least one half of said width.
 17. The device of claim 16further including a clamping device useable to secure said at leastfirst register block in a desired position in said cylinder barrel, saidclamping device having a clamping point within said cylinder barrel,said clamping point being useable to fix said at least first registerblock in place with respect to a position change in said longitudinaldirection.
 18. The device of claim 17 further including a plurality ofsaid register blocks, said plurality of said register blocks beingoperable by said clamping device.
 19. The device of claim 17 whereinsaid cylinder barrel has an end face and further wherein said clampingdevice is actuated from said cylinder barrel end face.
 20. The device ofclaim 17 wherein said clamping device is moveable in said longitudinaldirection and further wherein longitudinal movement of said registerblock can be accomplished independently of longitudinal movement of saidclamping device.
 21. The device of claim 17 further including a clampingstrip in said clamping device, said clamping strip acting on said atleast one register block, and an actuating assembly, said actuatingassembly being operable to move said clamping strip in a directionperpendicular to said longitudinal direction against and away from saidat least one register block.
 22. The device of claim 21 wherein saidactuating assembly includes a threaded spindle extending in saidlongitudinal direction, said threaded spindle being useable to move saidclamping strip in said direction perpendicular to said longitudinaldirection.
 23. The device of claim 16 further including a secondregister block in said cylinder barrel, said first and second registerblocks being arranged adjacent each other in said longitudinaldirection.
 24. The device of claim 23 further including at least asecond clamping device in said cylinder barrel.
 25. The device of claim16 further including a recess in said cylinder barrel, said recessextending in said longitudinal direction, and a groove extending betweensaid recess and a shell surface of said cylinder barrel, said groovereceiving a leading end and a trailing end of a packing placed on saidcylinder barrel.
 26. The device of claim 25 wherein said packing leadingend has a cutout and further wherein said at least one register blockhas a protrusion, said protrusion being receivable in said cutout. 27.The device of claim 25 wherein said groove extends at an acute anglebetween said recess and said shell surface and further wherein saidgroove has a width at said shell surface, said width being less than 3mm.
 28. The device of claim 25 wherein said register block has aregister block width and said groove has a groove width, said registerblock width being greater than said width.
 29. The device of claim 16wherein said cylinder barrel has a barrel length, said barrel lengthbeing at least equal to twice said packing width.
 30. The device ofclaim 16 wherein said cylinder barrel has a barrel length, said barrellength being at least equal to four times said packing width.
 31. Thedevice of claim 30 wherein said distance over which said at least oneregister block is changeable is equal to one half of said barrel length.